By NEAL WAGNER / Managing Editor

ALABASTER – Kingwood Christian School class of 2019 valedictorians Garrett Helmers and Natalie Watts shared similar messages of encouragement to their 33 fellow graduates during the school’s graduation ceremony on the night of May 23.

During the ceremony, which packed the sanctuary at Kingwood Church off Industrial Road in Alabaster, Helmers and Watts encouraged their peers to follow their dreams and work to live up to God’s plan for their lives, no matter what the world may throw at them.

“Don’t let anyone stand in your way. Don’t let the words of others stand between you and your passion,” Helmers said. “The greatest successes we find in life are when we become more than anyone thought we could be. Always remember to stay positive, no matter how trying the situation might be.”

Watts encouraged her classmates to never let others define who they are.

“Letting others define you causes pain, self-esteem issues and distorts who God has intended for you to be,” Watts said. “There is a plan for all of us, as Jeremiah 29:11 tells us.”

The ceremony featured an opening prayer from Rev. Mark Davis, a welcome from KCS Principal and Headmaster Ruth Gray and a presentation of the class’s history by historians Trinity Hollis and Connor Lumpkin.

Rev. Mark Sims provided the keynote address, and each of the 35 members of the class continued a KCS graduation tradition by presenting video messages and roses thanking their family members for helping them reach the milestone.

During his address, Sims provided four pieces of advice to the grads as they prepare to enter the next steps in their lives: forgive quickly, seek advice from wise people, always say thank you and live for your great-grandchildren.

“I want to say thank you to all of our families. You not only played a tremendous role in helping these kids succeed and get to this point, you are a blessing to us,” Gray said. “We look forward to seeing what God has in store for your children going forward.”